Movable ice-chamber



(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 1. I. ALLEGRETTI.

MOVABLE 1GB CHAMBER.

No. 349,831. Patented Sept. Z8, 1886.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. I. ALLEGRETTI.

MOVABLB IGH CHAMBER.

No. 349,831. Patented Sept. 28, 1886.

Q/wto/L,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IGNAZIO AIILEGRETII, OF VEST BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA.

IVIOVABLE lCECHAM BER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 349,831, datedSeptember 28, 1886.

Application filed June 1G, 1886. Serial No. 205,378. (No model.) l

purpose of keeping cool the temperature of a room or other apartment,and which are especially adapted for use in cars employed for thetransportation of fruit and other perishable articles.

My invention consists in an ice chamber or box of peculiarlconstruction, whereby it may Abe readily handled or moved about andadapted for use in various places, said chamber or box being sectionaland readily divided into its several parts for transportation when notin use, and as easily set up again when required.

In connection with this chamber or box my invention further consists ina novel skeleton frame or casing adapted to contain the chamber or box,and to be readily and effectively secured to the apartment in which itis used and removed when not in use, said casing and ice-chamber beinglocated in such manner as toai'ford access from without, all of which Ishall hereinafter fully describe.

Referring to the accompanying drawings fora more complete explanation ofmy invention, Figure l is a plan view of my iceehamber and its easing.Fig. 2 is a perspective view of same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation ofsame, showing it in the car, which is in longitudinal vertical section.

rIhe general object of my invention is to provide a movable ice-chamberadapted to be placed in any room or apartment for the purpose of coolingthe air thereof; but the particular object I have in view is to furnisha practical ice chamber or box for use in railway-cars employed for thetransportation of fruit and other perishable articles which can bepreserved in a cool atmosphere. The box or chamber A consists,preferably, of sections of galvanized-iron plates. rlhe base of thechamber is a shallow trough, u. The sides a are plates or sheets, whichare fitted to the base by having their lower edges insertedin the troughand pressing against its sides. The vertical end edges of the sideplates are bent to form flanges af. The ends a? of the box or chamberare plates which fit within the flanged ends of the sides and press saidsides outwardly to their bearing against the sides of the trough-base,and also against the exterior frame, to be hereinafter described. Thevertical edges of the end plates are also bent to form flanges a, whichwith the ilanges of the side plates and the sides and ends of thebase-trough make the box or chamber tight enough for the purpose ofholding ice, and still enable the box to be readily taken to pieces whendesired. One of the end plates, a, is shorter than the other, thusleaving an opening, a, in the end of the box or chamber for the purposeof affording access to insert the ice. The chamber or box A may have afull or a partial cover, or none at all, as may be found best.

B is an exterior frame or easing inclosing the icebox A. It is madepreferable of wood, and is of an open or skeleton character, so that asmuch of the surface of the ice-box as possible is exposed. It isrectangular in shape, and has a removable bottom, b, which is sloping,as shown, so that the trouglrbase a of the ice-box, when resting uponit, is in elined downwardly to one end. The frame B has an open end, b',coinciding with the open end a5 of the ice-box, so that no obstructionis presented to the ice when being placed in the chamber A. The base ofthe frame B and also one of its ends are provided with projecting cleats5"', by which the frame is secured in the apartment or room in which itis placed.

In Fig. 3 I have shown the use of my removable ice'chamber in a car, O.I have here shown it in the end of the car, though it may be placed inother positions, such as in the sides. The ice-chamber anditsinclosingframe project into the car, yand are so placed that the openend is next the wall of the ear; and in this Wall I cut a door, c,which, when opened, exposes the opening in the end of the ice-chamber,so that saidA chamber may be readily replenished from the outsidewhenever it may be found necessary. In the lower end ofthe trough-baseof the ice-chamber A,I make a hole, a, through which the water from theice may be discharged through the open bottom ofthe frame B and througha hole inthe floor of the car. By making the bottom of the frame Bsloping, which throws the base of the box A on an incline, the waterfrom the ice runs down to the discharge and is carried off through theend of the floor of the car, and thus the box has no tendency tolealqwhereby the contents of the car might be injured. The frame B isfirmly secured in position by means of bolts D, which are passed throughthe cleats b2 into the Hoor and the wall of the car. It will thereforenot be shaken down upon the journey, and yet, by the removal of thebolts may be easily taken out of the car.`

It is obvious that instead of having the end of the ice-'box open, I mayhave its top or side open and replenish it through a door in the root`or side of of the car.

The use of' my ice-chamber is as follows: Vhen a ear-load of fruit orother perishable articles is about to be shipped, the car is firstprovided with one or more of the icechambers, which are placed andsecured in the position described and shown. the car is loaded and isstarted ou its journey. Vhen the ice in the chamber needs replenishing,the door c in the end of the car is opened and4 more ice is insertedthrough the end opening in the box. This, it will be observed, is donefrom the outside and without disturbing the contents of the car. Thereplenishing may take place as often as may be necessary. When the earhas reached its destination andi is unloaded, it may be sent back with aload of merchandise which does not need to be kept cool.` Theice-chamber is consequently removed, which' operation is ,easilyeffected bytaking out the bolts D, so that the frame B and its inclosedchamber A can be removed. If the box has to be sent back, the severalparts may be readily separated and placed in a small compass; or theymay be otherwise packed or stored.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In combination with a car or other apartment, a chamber or boxcontaining ice placed in the car and secured thereto by bolts or otherfastenings in such a manner that it may be readily removed when desired,substantially as herein described.

2. A movable ice chamber or box and a skeleton frame or casing inclosingit, said l fitted to the base and the side plates, all of said partsbeing independent and separable, whereby the chamber may be taken apart,v

substantially as herein described.

Then l 4. A movable ice-chamber consisting of the trough-base a, thefianged side plates, a,fitted to the base, and the iianged end plates,a, tted to the base and to the side plates, one of said end plates beingshort, whereby an opening, a5, is left in the end of the chamber, andall of the parts of the chamber being independent and separable,substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

5. An ice box or chamber in combination with the open or skeleton frameB, inclosing said box or chamber and having cleats b2, whereby it may bebolted to the apartmentin which it is placed and again removed,substantially as herein described.

6. An ice chamber or box having an open end, in combination with themovable skeleton frame or casing B, having au open end,

',b, coinciding with the open end of' the Vice chamber or box, saidframeor casing having cleats b2, whereby it may be readily bolted to theapartment in which it is contained and re- Vmoved therefrom,substantially as herein described.

7.A The ice chamber or box having an open end, in combination with theskeleton frame `0r easing B, inclosing the ice-chamber, said ment inwhich it is contained and removed i therefrom, substantially as hereindescribed.

8. The ice chamber or box A,consisting of the trough-base a, the flangedside plates, a', and the flanged end plates, a3, fitted together andseparable, one of said end plates being short, whereby an opening, a5,is lel't in the end of the ice chamber or box, in combination l with theinclosing skeleton frame or casing B,

having an open end, b', coinciding with the y open end Aof the icechamber or box, a removable sloping bottom, b, and cleats b2, whereby iit may be bolted to the apartment in which it is contained and removedtherefrom, substanitially as herein described.

9. In a car or other room or apartment havclosing skeleton frame oreasing B, having an open part, b', coinciding with the open part of theice chamber or box, said chamber and frame being placed Within the carand se cured therein by bolts or other means providing for their readyremoval, and in such position that upon the openingof the door of the lcar the open parts of the ice-chamber and its frame shall be exposed,substantially as and for theV purpose herein described.

In Witness whereof I have hereto set my hand.

IGNAZIO ALLEGRETTI.

lVitnesses:

S. I-I. NoURsE, H. C. LEE.

IOO

IIO

` ing a door, c, in its wall, the ice chamber or `box A, having an openpart, c5, and the in-

